Ticona Engineering Polymers, a leader in non-halogenated thermoplastic polyester (PBT) development, announcedan addition to its portfolio of XFR - halogen - free flame retardant polymers - the enhanced Celanex 6842 series with improved processability and equivalent properties that give designers and manufacturers a "drop-in" option for use in eco-friendly electrical and electronic components.

- The new Celanex XFR PBTs fromTicona are V-0 and RoHS compliant with a proprietary flame retardant (FR) system that wil lallow our customers to use them as a virtual ?drop in` replacement for most similarly available PBTs without having to modify designs, build new molds or make significant tooling changes - said Jeanne Pilis, polyester product marketing manager. - In addition, the new Celanex XFRseries is available in filled and unfilled grades that match the flow and toughness of our brominated FR series.

Requested by Ticona customers, the enhanced series builds on the halogen-free direction it started when the Celanex XFR range of non-halogenated FR thermoplastic polyesters was commercialized in 2004. This FR system, recognized in 2006 with a Frost & Sullivan Product Innovation Award, is also included in two new Riteflex XFR thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPC-ET) grades.

Celanex XFR and Riteflex XFR grades help customers comply with hazardous substance restrictions and waste directives such as the Restriction ofHazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE). These directives restrict the use of certain brominated flame retardants in electrical and electronic components, key end-use applications for engineering polyesters.

- The plastics industry is evaluating alternate flame-retardant additives for use in electrical and electronic applications that face stringent FR requirements - said Pete Bombik, polyester global business director. - Ticona uses an innovative flame retardant system in its XFR productline to replace conventional FRs, which actually enhances the performance of the engineering polymers while making them more eco-friendly.

The new Celanex PBT series with its patented XFR system provides several advantages over the highest performing non-halogenated FR polyesters available today. These advantages include: no migration during processing or corrosion of terminals or leads during use, no toxic / corrosive gases emitted when burned, lower density than halogenated FR system, excellent electrical properties (high ComparativeTracking Index and Glow Wire), excellent colorability and color stability.

In addition to Celanex XFR PBTs and Riteflex XFR TPC-ETs, Ticona offers Vectra liquid crystal polymer (LCP) and Fortron polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) ? two families of high-performance polymers that are inherently flame resistant without the use of either halogenated or non-halogenated flame retardant additives.

Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, produces and markets a broad range of high performance products, and posted net sales of $1.03 billion in fiscal 2007. Ticona employs approximately 2,000 individuals at production, compounding and research facilities in the USA,Germany, Brazil and China.